Running-gear for motor-vehicles.



No. 783,599-, PATENTED FEB. 28, i905. J. WARRINGTON & H. C. MARMON.RUNNING GEAR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.. 24, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

SWW/wmf Jesse Warrington and award C Marmon f /v/ @Hoz/nw No. 783,599.PATENTE-D FEB. 28. 1905. J. WARRINGTON & H. C. MARMON. RUNNING GEAR FORMOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24., 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

gton and Marmon bl'ozMe/la/ Jesse Warrin Howard C. 32W

mw s fm.-- mw @H www L No'. 783,599. RATRNIRD IRR. 2R, IOO5. I.WARRINGTON & II. O, MARMON.

RUNNING GEAR IOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

' APPLICATION FILED MAE. 24, 1904.

BSHBBTS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES Patented February 28, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

JESSE IARRINGTON AND HOWARD O. MARMON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA,ASSIGNORS TO NORDYKE & MARMON COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ACORPORATION OF INDIANA.-

RUNNING-GEAR FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES- SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. I783,599, dated February 28, 1905.

Application filed March 24:, 1904. Serial No. 199,712.

1'0 all whom, it' may concern:

Be it known that we,JEssE WARRINGTON and HOWARD C. MARMON, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion andState of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRunning-Gear for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification.

M otor-vehicles, as is well known, are heavy and embody a considerableamount of ma-` chinery. Such vehicles are frequently required to runover rough roads, so that the' wheels encounter different (andconstantly differing) surfaces as the vehicle progresses. It is of greatimportance, therefore, that the construction be such as to permit thenecessary relative vertical movement of the wheels in respect to eachother without throwing undue strain upon the machinery. 'It is alsohighly desirable that the movement in question shall not unduly tip thevehicle-body carrying the passengers.

The objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent from thestatements just' "made, and the leading' features of said inventionconsist of such an arrangement of the motor-carrying frame in respect tothe driving-axle that the driving-shaft lvmay extend longitudinallythereof toward the motor to which it is connected and by which it isdriven and the frame be also pivotally connected to the driving-axlestructure, thus permitting a movement of the driving-axle departing fromthe horizontal without affecting the corresponding position of themotor-carrying frame and motor.

The invention further consists in the embodiment, in a vehiclerunning-gear, of two frames, each supported at three points, (one ofsaid frames being' the motor-carrying frame above referred to,) oner ofsaid frames beingl supported at two points at one end and at a singlepoint at the other, while the other frame is supported at two points atthat end where the lirst frame is supported at one point only and at asingle point at the other end.

Referring' to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof,and on which um, 1n-w lmi,...b-J` similar reference characters indicatesimilar parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of amotorvehicle embodyingour said invention, the body, seat. and machinery-inclosing casing beingindicated by means of dotted lines; Fig. 2, a top or plan View, onasomewhat enlarged scale, of the running-gear, omitting' much of themechanism of the automobile, but with the location of the driving-shaftand also of the rear axle indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 3, a sideelevation of substantially the saine parts shown in Fig. 2, but with thewheels and ends of the axle broken away as seen when looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows from the dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 2;Fig. 4, a substantially central vertical sectional view as seen from thepoint indicated by the dotted line 4 4 in Fig. 2, the general positionof that part of the main shaft not shown being indicated by means ofdotted lines; Fig. 5, a transverse vertical sectional View as seen whenlooking in the direction indicated by the arrows from the dotted line 55 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 a detail View as seen when looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows from the dotted lines 6 6 in Fig. 2.

In the construction selected for illustrating this invention the rearand front axles 2l and 22 are supported, respectively, by the usualground-wheels 23 and 24. Upon the rear axle 2l are the springs 25 and26, and upon the front axle 22 arev the springs 27 and 28.

' lhe rear axle 2l preferably has a casing 2O by which it is inclosed,the central portion of which is enlarged sufficiently to receive themain driving-gear, as shown in Fig. Ll, and which also has a tubularextension 19, which ensheathes themain driving-shaft 18 for aconsiderable portion of its length. This whole structure is renderedvery rigid by means of supported by a single pivot, as 34, which restsin a bearing' carried by a second frame. Said second frame is shown asof a triangular form and extends back in a downwardly-inclined directiontoward the axle 21. This frame is shown as composed of side bars 41(which ineline toward each other as they approach the axle 21, nearwhich they are strongly connected by bars 42 to the tubular casing 19)and of suitable cross-bars 43, 44, 45, and 46, the latter of' which isattached to the ends of the bars 41 by means of links 47 and preferablystay-rods 48.

The construction embodying the links 47 (just mentioned) permits theslight relative movement in use between the two principal framesincident to the yielding' of the springs Without throwing undue strainupon any of the parts. The frame last described is supported at twopoints 51 and 52 (near that end which supports the frame 31 by means ofthe single pivot 34) upon the spring's 27 and 28. At its other end thisframe is supported centrally upon the sleeve or casing 19, this point ofsupport being a pivotal one, whereby a rocking'.

movement of the whole frame about the main driving-shaft is permitted,and as said sleeve or casing is, in effect, a part of the casing' 20,which surrounds and is carried by the axle 21, said frame is, in effect,pivotally supported at this end from said axle.

The frame 31 carries the body and casing portions of the vehicle. 'lheframe which cmbodies the bars 41 carries the motor and g'earing. rlhemotor is located at a point near where the latter frame is supported bythe springs 27 and 28, and consequently while the motor isspring-supported its support is largely independent of the spring's bywhich the body or riding portion of the vehicle and frame l31 is mainlysupported. The motor is therefore largely relieved from the suddenshocks occasioned by contact of the vehicle-wheels with obstruction inthe roadway over which the vehicle is passing; but the body in which thepassengers are seated is not thereby subjected to any great extent tothev1brations'occasioned by the heavy Weight of the motor and its connectedmechanism being' thrown upon the riding-springs; but the most importantresult of' this mechanism is the freeing ofthe mechanism from strainsoccasioned by the passing of the wheels over unequal surfaces. As theframe 31 is pivoted at each of its supportingpoints 32, 33, and 34, itis obvious that while the raising of one of the wheels 23 in respect tothe other Will tip the frame 31 bodily it will place upon it nowrenching strain, as it is supported at the other end only by the singlepivot 34. 1t is equally obvious 'that the raising of one of the wheels24 in respect to the other will have little or no effect of' any kindupon the frame 31. rlhe raising of one of the wheels 24 in respect tothe other will of course tip the frame 41 46 and with it the motor andmechanism carried thereby; but as said frame is pivotally mounted at theother end and as the axis of the driving-shaft is coincident with theaxis of the pivotal support it is obvious that no wrenching of themechanism can be occasioned by this movement.

The pivot 34 is in the same vertical plane as the driving-shaftof themachine. Its axial line, however, is somewhat above that of said drivingshaft and passes approximately through the center of gravity of themotor. The vibrations of the motor caused by the impulse-strokes arearound a defined point that is approximately the center of gravity ofthe motor. By thus having' the axis of the relative rotation of' the twoframes pass through this point the vibrations of the motor due to itsexplosion-strokes are not communicated to the body-carrying frame. Thepositioning of said pivot somewhat above said shaft is therefore in theinterest of equable steady motion of the moving parts.

In the construction so far described and which we have adopted incarrying' out our invention, the frames 31 and 41 being' mountedprincipally upon the vehicle-springs and vthere being' no directconnection between the frames and the axles on account of the heavystrains which obstructions sometimes occasion,

we have found it best to provide pivoted braces running from anintermediate point on the frame to near the ends of the axles to assistsaid axles in resisting such strains. In carrying' out this we providethe downwardly-extending' struts 61. which are attached about midway tothe sides of the frame 31. From these struts we extend the brace-rods 62rearwardly to the axles 21, to which they are secured, as indicated, andwe also extend from the same struts the rods 63 forward to the axle 22,to which they are secured, as indicated. '.lhese brace-rods are soarranged (as shown inthe drawings) that the vertical movement of theframe 3l upon the springs 25 26 is compensated for, so that there is acontinuous equal bearing upon said rods at all times, and by this meansthe necessary direct connection between the axles is provided forwithout depending' wholly upon the connections to the springs by whichthe frames are attached and uniform distances between the correspondingends of the two axles is maintained, which is quite desirable,especially in high-speed machinesthat is, the distances between theaxles, while varying slightly, are always made to vary equallythroughout their lengths` so that their parallel relation remainsunaffected.

Having thus fully described our said invention, what we claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a running-gear for vehicles, of' the axles,suitable springs carried IIS thereby, and two frames supported at two yor near the other end, the supporting-points ofthe two frames beingarranged reversely with respect to each other, each of said frames beingspring-supported at the end having two points of support, and one ofsaid frames having its single point of support carried from thespring-supported end of the other frame.

'2. rlhe combination, in a running-gear for Vehicles, of thevehicle-axles, suitable springs carried by said axles, one frame carriedby two spring-mounted points of support from one of said vehicle-axles,another frame likewise carried from two spring-mounted points of supportfrom the other of said vehicleaxles, and each of said frames carried byone point of support from the axle opposite to that upon which it iscarried by two points of support.

3. The combination, in a running-gear for vehicles, of two axles eachcarrying two springs, two frames, one of which is supported by asuitable point of support from each of the two springs upon one of theaxles, and the other of which is carried by a suitable point of supportfrom each of the two springs on the other axle, said first-mentionedframe being also supported by a single point of support carried from theopposite axle, and the second frame being carried by a single point ofsupport upon the opposite end of the firstmcntioned framen v 1i. rlhecombination, in a running-gear for vehicles; of a frame supported fromthe springs of the front axle and extending back in adownwardly-inclined direction toward the rear axle where it is pivotallysupported at a single point of support upon a structure carried by saidrear axle, said frame being provided with bearings for the maindriving-shaft by means of which said rear axle is driven, a second framesupported by the springs carried by the rear axle and extending forwardin a substantially ,horizontal direction, and supported at the other endby a single pivotal point of support from the tirst-meutioned frame,said last-mentioned frame being adapted to carry the bed and seats ofthe vehicle, and said lirstmentioned frame being adapted to carry themotor and driving mechanism.

5. The combination, in a ruiming-gear for vehicles, of a main framecarried at two points of support by the springs carried by one axle, andpivotally mounted on the sheath or casing containing the maindriving-shaft which drives the other axle, and having at its extremeforward end a cross-bar connected thereto by means of links; and asecond frame mounted by two points of support upon the springs carriedby the other axle at one end, and by a pivotal connection upon thelink-carried cross-bar of the first-mentioned frame at the other end.

6. The combination, in a running-gear for vehicles, of two frames eachsupported at two points at or near one end and at one/point at or nearthe other end, the duplicate supporting-points of each being at that endwhere the single supporting-point of the other is located, and one ofthe frameshaving its single point of support carried rigidly from one ofthe axles, while the other has its single point of support carried fromthe first-mentioned frame at the end where it is spring-supported.

7. The combination, in a running-gear for vehicles, of two axles eachcarrying two springs, two frames, one of which is supported by asuitable point of support from each of the two springs carried by one ofthe axles, and the other of which is carried by a suitable point ofsupport from cach of the two springs carried by the other axle, and eachof said frames having a single point of support from the opposite axle,and brace-rods ruiming' from each of the axles directly to one of saidframes, whereby uniform distances between the corresponding ends of theaxles are maintained notwithstanding the variations caused by thevibration of the springs.

8. The combination, in a running-gear for vehicles, wherein there aretwo separate frames, each spring-mounted, of the axles, said frames, andbrace-rods running from the axles directly to a stationary connectionwith one of said frames.

9. The combination, in a running-gear for motor-driven vehicles, of aframe separate from the body-frame and extending out radially from thedriven axle of the vehicle, amotor mounted on said frame, a shaft alsomounted on said frame and extending in a straight line from said motortoward said axle (the axes of said shaft and said axle intersecting), apivotal bearing having its axis coincident with that of said shaft bywhich that end of said frame nearest said axle is supported, and astructure carried by said axle embodying said bearing. t

10. 'lhe combination, in a running-gear for motor-driven vehicles, of aframe extending out radially from the driven axle of the vehicle andsupported at the other end fronithe opposite axle, a motor mounted onsaid frame, ashaft also mounted on said frame and extending from saidmotor toward said axle` powertransmission devices connecting said shaftand said axle, a structure carried by the axle cxtending out toward saidmotor, and a pivotal bearing uniting said structure and the framecarrying' said motor, whereby said axle is permitted movement departingfrom horizontal position without affecting the corresponding position ofthe frame and the motor carried thereby.

1l, The combination, in a running-gear for vehicles, of thevehicle-axles, suitable springs carried by said axles, one frame carriedby two spring-mounted points of support from one of said vehicle-axles,another frame likewise carried at two spring-mounted points of supportfrom the other vehicle-axle, one of said frames IOO carried by one pointof support Vfrom'the axle opposite to that upon which it is carried bytwo points of support, and the other frame carried by a suitable supportfrom the axle from which the one frame is carried by two points ofsupport. Y

12. A running-gear for motor-vehicles consisting et' a driving-axlestructure, a motorfrarne pivoted upon said axle structure on an axissubstantially at right angles thereto, a driving-shaft extending insubstantially the same direction as said motor-frame, connectionsbetween the driving-shaft and the driving-axle, a motor carried by saidtraine and connected to and driving said shaft, and a second axlestructure supporting said frame.

13. The combination, in a running-gear for vehicles, of a frame supported at two points ot' support from one axle structure and at onepivotal point of support from the other axle structure, the last-namedstructure embodying the driving-axle, a d riving-shaft mounted on saidframe,power-transmission devices connecting' said shaft to saiddriving-axle, and a motor mounted on said frame and connected to anddriving said shaft.

14. In a motor-vehicle, a ruiming-gear consisting of a driving-axlestructure, a motorcarrying frame, a single pivotal connection betweensaid motor-carrying frame and said driving-axle structure substantiallyat right angles to said structure. a second axle structure upon whichsaid motor-carrying frame is in part supported, a dri\f'ing-shaitextending longitudinally of said motor-carrying frame and having itsaxis coincident with the pivotal axis of said frame, and a motorniounted on said motor-frame and connected to and driving said shalt andthrough said shaft said driving-axle.

15. In a motor-vehicle, a running-gearconsisting of a driving-axlestructure, a motor- AFrame, a pivotal connection between saidmotor-frame and said driving-axle structure substantially at rightangles to said structure, a second axle structure upon which saidmotorframe is in part supported, a driving shaft having' its axiscoincident with the pivotal axis of said frame, a motor mounted on saidmoaxle of the Vehicle and supported at the other end from said otheraxle, a motor mounted on said frame, a shaft also mounted on said frameand extending from said motor toward the driving-axle,power-transmission devices connecting said shaft and said driving-axle,a structure carried b v the driving-axle, and a pivotal bearing uniting'said structure and the motor-carrying' frame whereby said drivingaxle ispermitted movement departing' from horizontal position without affectingthe corresponding position ot' the frame and the Inotor carried thereby.

17. A running-gear for motor-Vehicles consisting ot' a driving-axlestructure, a motorearrying frame pivoted on said axle structure on anaxis substantially at right angles thereto, a motor mounted on saidmotor-carrying frame, driving connections between the motor and drivingaxlepermitting freedom of movement o't' the motor-carrying vframe aboutits pivot` and a second axle structure supporting said frame. i

18. A running-gear for motor-vehicles consisting of a driving-axlestructure, a motorcarrying frame pivoted on said axle structure so as toswing thereon on an axissnbstantially at right angles thereto, a motormounted on said motor-carrying frame, driving' connections between themotor and driving-axle permitting' freedom ol" movement of themotorcarrying 'frame about its pivot, and a second axle structuresupporting said trarne.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals, atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 22d day of March, A. D. 190-1.

JESSE VARRINGTON. s] HOVARD C. MARMON. LL. s]

Witnesses:

CHESTER BRADFORD, JAMES A. fALsiL

